Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin Battle the Wasteland in Ridley Scott’s 'The Dog Stars' Official Trailer
Based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, the post-pandemic film follows a solitary pilot and a tough ex-marine defending a Colorado airstrip.
Summary
- 20th Century Studios has released the first trailer for The Dog Stars, a new post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller directed by Ridley Scott
- The film stars Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley, with Elordi having replaced Paul Mescal in the lead role due to scheduling conflicts
- Adapted by Twisters writer Mark L. Smith, the movie is scheduled to hit theaters on August 28, 2026
Ridley Scott is taking audiences into a desolate, post-pandemic future in his highly anticipated new project. 20th Century Studios has officially released the first trailer for The Dog Stars, offering a gripping look at the upcoming cinematic adaptation of Peter Heller’s acclaimed 2012 novel. Starring Jacob Elordi alongside an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley, the sci-fi thriller promises a gritty fight for survival in a world nearly wiped out by a catastrophic flu virus.
In the newly released footage, viewers are introduced to Hig (Elordi), a solitary civilian pilot who has lost his wife and navigates the wasteland with only his loyal pet dog by his side. Teaming up with Bangley (Brolin), an aloof, gun-toting ex-Marine, the unlikely duo works to fiercely defend an abandoned airstrip in Colorado from dangerous invaders. The harsh reality of their isolated existence is suddenly disrupted when a crash landing at a secluded ranch brings them face-to-face with a young medic named Cima (Qualley) and her fiercely protective father, a former Navy SEAL played by Guy Pearce.
The Dog Stars serves as Scott’s immediate directorial follow-up to his 2024 blockbuster Gladiator II. Interestingly, Paul Mescal, who headlined the Gladiator sequel, was originally slated to play Hig. After Mescal departed the project in early 2025 due to scheduling conflicts with Sam Mendes’ sprawling Beatles biopics, Elordi stepped in to take over the leading role, balancing the massive production in Italy with his commitments to Wuthering Heights and the third season of Euphoria.
Weaving together intense action with profound themes of hope and human connection in the face of absolute despair, the film looks to be another visually stunning addition to Scott’s legendary resume. Bolstered by a strong supporting cast that also includes Benedict Wong and Allison Janney, the star-studded apocalyptic epic is already shaping up to be a major late-summer theatrical event arriving on August 28, 2026.
